In the NFL, it’s not easy to make the playoffs. The Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t eliminated yet, but they made life hard for themselves over the past few weeks. Mike Tomlin’s streak of being over .500 is in jeopardy for the first time, and things don’t look great in the Steel City, but they can still find a way to slip into the dance. It won’t be easy, but it’s possible.
The Steelers’ loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 13 makes life harder than it has to be. They have officially squandered their lead in the AFC North after beginning the season 4-1. The Baltimore Ravens started the season 1-5, but here they are at 6-6. Baltimore’s Thanksgiving loss to the Cincinnati Bengals helps Pittsburgh, but also propels the Bengals into the mix. Leave it to the Steelers to make life harder on themselves.
Life is never easy in the AFC North, but the Steelers have a knack for making it harder than it has to be. The losses that should’ve been wins are now looming largely over them. They managed to beat good teams like the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts, but the bad losses erase that. With the season winding down, Tomlin and his team are behind the eight ball. They have to handle business now.
Reaching the NFL Playoffs is going to be tough for the Steelers. Once again, the schedule makers didn’t go easy on them to end the season. They play the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, and the Ravens twice. It sounds like a recipe for disaster in the Steel City. None of those games will be easy, but they must be won if Pittsburgh wants to sniff its annual first-round exit.
As Tomlin would say, it’s time to unleash hell in December, because they have to. To make the playoffs, they will need at least 10 wins. The Steelers have to sweep the Ravens, handle business against the Browns and Dolphins, and upset one of the Bills or Lions. Nothing comes easy in the Steel City. Aaron Rodgers will have to run the table to end the season to make the playoffs and avoid a losing season.
A losing season wouldn’t be the worst thing that could happen to the Steelers. The higher the draft pick, the better. Unfortunately, three more losses won’t improve the pick much, so they should just try to make the playoffs. They still have a chance to get into the dance, and they will try. Tanking isn’t in their blood. It’s time to lock in and go on a run, starting with beating Josh Allen’s Bills.
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